A 9-0 run late in the second quarter gave Eisenhower a double digit lead that they would hold onto in a 43-24 win over Rocky Grove on Thursday at Eisenhower High School.

Eisenhower turned the opening tip into a Dakota Williams lay-up, gaining a quick 2-0 lead in a game in which they never trailed. After Ike went up 6-2, Rocky Grove rebounded, cutting the deficit to 10-9 before Eisenhower ripped off a four-point run to end the first.

Eisenhower also scored the first four points of the second to stretch the lead to nine. Rocky Grove, which didn’t score in the second until the 4:21 mark, clawed back again to cut the lead to five at 18-13. Once again, the Lady Knights went on a run. After scoring six straight, Williams nailed a 3-pointer to put Ike up 14, the spread at halftime.

A stifling defensive effort removed all doubt in the second half. Eisenhower limited Rocky Grove to just two free throws, and no field goals, in the fourth quarter to finish off the win.

“I thought we played great defense,” said Ike coach Mike Logue, noting that the Lady Knights were able to limit the Orioles’ leading scorers, both averaging double figures, to four and eight points, respectively. “I’m happy. We achieved our objective in holding those girls down.”

He praised the individual defensive efforts of Halie VanOrd and Danielle Bradish, who had three steals each on the night. “Those two girls, I can’t say enough about those two girls on the defensive end of the floor.”

While the Knights’ offensive output slowed in the second half, Logue was pleased with their first half offensive execution. “We got opportunities and ran well,” he said. “We did all we wanted to do (in the first half).”

Holly Chapman and Halie VanOrd paced the Lady Knights in scoring with eight each. Chapman added seven rebounds and three blocks. Alyssa Peterson had a team-high four assists to go with seven rebounds and six points.

The win pushes the Lady Knights one game over the .500 mark at 5-4.

Eisenhower lost a junior varsity contest to McDowell 51-14. Mallory Trumbull scored four points for the Lady Knights and Shania Spicer finished with three in the loss.

After playing a tight first quarter, the Eagles were outscored 11-2, 18-5, and 23-5 in the remaining periods as they fall to 1-9 overall and 0-4 in the region.

“We keep having good first quarters, we just need to work on being more consistant,” said Youngsville coach Dave Becker. “We’ve had some opportunities. We need to take advantage of them.”

Kennedy Cratty led the way for Youngsville with eight points, while sister Karissa Cratty finished with six. Those were all the points the Eagles would see until Jorie Clark hit a 3-pointer and another from just inside the arc late in the fourth quarter.